Trump Trial Verdict

Floor Speech

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Mr. LEE. Madam President, the conviction of President Trump is a clear manifestation that our justice system has been weaponized against us, against the American people. This was a political persecution aimed squarely at one thing and one thing only: preventing President Trump from challenging the current administration in this Presidential election.

Now, let's just examine the facts--just the basic, irrefutable facts. The proceedings against President Trump were marred by unclear charges and irregular jury instructions, making it evident, from the very beginning, that this trial was not about the pursuit of justice. It was not about the objective demands of the law.

No, it was a choreographed act of partisan lawfare intended to dismantle the political rights of an individual who stands as the principal opponent--I would dare say the sole remaining obstacle--to President Joe Biden becoming a second-term President. He is the last person, the last man, the last object standing in the way of President Biden's second term.

And so that fact, all by itself, signals something. It signals something we haven't seen before. It signals something that I wish we never had seen in our Republic and that I certainly hope we never see again. But the hypocrisy of this is just palpable.

The Democrats and their allies in the media have long accused President Trump of undermining American norms and traditions and of all these supposedly norm-shattering actions. Yet they now champion a prosecution that reeks of the authoritarian tactics seen by the tinhorn dictators in banana republics--the same banana republics and failed systems of government that we have repeatedly sanctioned and shamed publicly with good reason.

In what country could a judge who, according to the New York Times, violated judicial ethics when he donated to a group supporting President Biden's campaign and another called Stop Republicans--that is literally the name of the group that he donated to, Stop Republicans. In what world could that judge be allowed to preside over the trial of a former President--a former Republican President and chief political opponent of the incumbent Democratic President?

Or how about Matthew Colangelo, another key figure in this prosecution? How could that person be authorized to transition directly from a senior role in the Justice Department under President Biden to lead the political prosecution of President Trump with Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg?

This intertwining of judicial proceedings with partisan politics should alarm every single American, regardless of your age, regardless of what part of the country you call home, and, frankly, regardless of your party affiliation.

Now, let's not forget that Senator Schumer's brother, whose law firm has lent significant legal firepower to this prosecutorial effort-- let's not forget that his brother is a partner in the law firm--the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison--the same firm that granted three highly paid attorneys a paid leave of absence to join the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, specifically in its targeting of Donald Trump.

We cannot stand idly by and act as if this didn't just happen and pretend that this whole endeavor hasn't changed--changed dramatically. We can't pretend that this didn't occur, nor should we. If we were observing such actions in another country, we would be discussing sanctions and shaming and perhaps a whole lot of other things, but certainly not silence. We wouldn't see that.

Now, as we prepare to honor the sacrifices made by the heroes on the beaches of Normandy, we are reminded that those brave souls fought and died, 80 years ago this week, to defeat dictators who ruthlessly wielded the power of the state, specifically to suppress and persecute their political enemies and anyone else who they thought stood in their way.

What would those American heroes say if they saw an American President cheering on a kangaroo-court attempt to imprison his political rival, his sole impediment to a second term in the Oval Office? Would they recognize the America they fought for?

It is with their sacrifice in mind that I call upon every Member of this Chamber to make it clear that we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear the country apart.

Now, Pandora's box is open and a sword of Damocles hangs over the neck of our great Republic. If we can muster even a fraction of the courage shown by the ``greatest generation'' on June 6, 1944, 80 years ago tomorrow, we may still change course. There is still time. They can still stand down on this.

There are more instances of reversible error in this case, underlying this conviction, than I have time to recite in these remarks. For that reason alone, it would be very easy for the prosecution to confess error on appeal. There is still time, but there is not much time left. Let's put this genie back where it belongs and never, ever let it come back.

I ask you, join me. Join me and fight. Push back on this while there is still time.

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